Escape from the Bronx

aka Bronx Warriors 2

Director - Enzo G. Castellari (The New Barbarians)

Starring - Mark Gregory (1990: The Bronx Warriors), Henry Silva (Code of Silence), and Valeria d'Obici (Midnight Killer)

Release Date - 1983

Genre - Action/Adventure

Tagline - "They're back and out for blood"

Format - BluRay (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Tonight I wrap up the third review in a post-apocalyptic triple feature that I have Blue Underground to thank for that.  Recently Blue Underground released three Enzo G. Castellari films. Those films were The New Barbarians, 1990: The Bronx Warriors and that film's sequel Escape from the Bronx.  These three films are cult classics when it comes to 80s post-apocalyptic action films.  Sadly, I had not seen any of these before until Blue Underground sent me review copies of them.  I checked out New Barbarians first and the film was by far the weakest of the three but 1990 really picked it up and set the tone for the sequel.  Thanks BU for hooking me up! 

     The film takes place several years after 1990: The Bronx Warriors.  Trash is the only Rider left alive and has been roaming the Bronx alone.  A giant corporation is intent on tearing the Bronx apart and building on it.  They attempt to clear the population out of the area but soon turn to lethal force and start killing everyone they come in contact with.  Several people of the Bronx has banded together underground and plan on fighting back but soon learn they are not enough in numbers.  Trash is brought into the mix when his parents are killed and they all come up with a plan to kidnap the president of the corporation and hold him until they leave the Bronx.  They are able to get him but things don't go as smoothly as they would like and they quickly learn something far more sinister is going on.
     Sequels usually are met with skepticism with a majority of fans bitching about the release.  Frankly, I love a good sequel and remake even though we get more shitty ones than good.  1990: The Bronx Warriors was a pretty fucking good film and the thought of a watching a sequel excited me.  The film was not as good as the first but was still fucking awesome.  The acting in this one is more of 1990.  Once again Gregory make mes laugh by the way he carries himself but the film does put him in more action oriented roles and the viewer forgets that.  The remainder of the cast does a great job at keeping the story rolling but none stand out.  The story for this one is just more of the same but out star is now alone and outnumbered.  This makes the viewer feel bad for Trash and really puts him on the viewer's level.  The story also has a lot more action than the first but it does become repetitive.  Also, the film has several kills scenes but they are just more of what we got in the first film with gunfire and explosions.  This is another thing the first film done better.  The practical effects are also very minimal and really lacked imagination.  Finally, this release is once again remastered to 1080p and features several great special features.  Those are commentary with director Enzo, Conversation Part III, The Hunt for Trash, trailers, stills, and posters.  Overall, Escape from the Bronx from Blue Underground is another impressive release.  The film looks good, fun to watch, and has some great special features.  Check it out!

1990: The Bronx Warriors

aka Bronx Warriors 

aka 1990: I Guerrieri Del Bronx

Director - Enzo G. Castellari (The New Barbarians)

Starring - Vic Morrow (The Twilight Zone: The Movie), Mark Gregory (Escape from the Bronx), and Fred Williamson (From Dusk Till Dawn)

Release Date - 1982

Genre - Action/Adventure

Tagline - "The lucky ones were the first to die!"

Format - BluRay (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The year 1982 was an exciting year for Italian director Enzo G. Castellari.  It was during this time that he directed the film that most believe to be his best one yet.  That film was 1990: The Bronx Warriors and it went on to become a cult classic and even spawned a sequel.  The film would be the first of three in which Enzo would tackle the post-apocalypse sub-genre.  This film is one I have heard so much about but for some fucked up reason I never attempted to grab a copy to check out.  Recently, Blue Underground announced that they would be releasing the film on blu.  This fucking excited me so I reached out to them and they were king enough to send over a review copy.  Thanks guys!
     The film follows Trash (Gregory) who is the leader of a motorcycle gang in the Bronx.  The Bronx has now been closed off from the rest of the U.S. and is no longer regulated by police.  Gangs have taken over sections of the Bronx and Trash is the leader of one of those gangs.  He rescues a young woman from another gang and learns that she is an important woman.  Her father owns the biggest company in the U.S., the Manhattan Corporation.  He keeps her close and the two hit it off.  However, her father wants her back and hires a man with no moral restraint to get her back.  Her starts a gang war between the gangs before sending in his private army to get her back.  What they did not count on is the gangs joining forces to keep them out of the Bronx...but do they stand a chance.
     One of my favorite aspects about post-apocalyptic horror flicks is that the land is lawless and the police have no authority.  Escape from New York is the perfect example of that and the thought of 1990: The Bronx Warriors being a mash up of that film and The Warriors made me a little too excited.  The acting in this one is hit and miss.  My first complaint is with the film's star Mark Gregory who plays Trash in the film.  When we first meet the film's anti-hero you can't help but laugh at him.  His posture is perfect and he refuses to bend his back even when riding his motorcycle.  He literally looked like a cardboard cutout riding a bike.  He also walks in a weird way which makes it hard for the viewer to take him seriously.  However, this changes once the film is in full swing and the viewer no longer notices this.  The remainder of the cast does a great job and are pretty consistent in it with no one shining brighter than the next.  The story for this is is painted as a post-apocalyptic flick but it is not.  The Bronx has fallen and only the strong survive but the remainder of the world is still churning.  No great disaster or event caused this.  This was a bit of a let down but it does follow a story similar to EfNY and does mix it up with The Warriors which does offer a very fun and exciting story even though it lacks originality.  The story really does throw everything it meant to be an early 80s post-apocalyptic film at the viewer creating an action packed flick that true fans of these films will really enjoy.  Also, the film has several kills scenes featuring various weapons from blunt object, to sharp object, and even a few gun shots.  Sadly, none are that impressive or stick out.  They all fall into mediocrity and deliver nothing amazing.  One would expect a few gory kills scenes with a film like this but they do not get them.  Finally, the film has been remastered and is now running 1080p and looks fantastic.  Scenes are clear and crisp while the audio is loud and strong.  The film also features several fantastic features like commentary by director Enzo Castellari, Conversations Part I with Enzo and Fabrizio De Angelis, Sourcing the Weaponry featurette, Adventures in the Bronx, trailers, posters and stills.  Overall, the Blue Underground release of 1990: The Bronx Warriors is the definitive release for this film.  The film looks amazing and has great special features.  Buy this one now!

The New Barbarians

aka Warriors of the Wasteland

aka I Nuovi Barbari

Director - Enzo G. Castellari (1990: Bronx Warriors)

Starring - Giancarlo Prete (Escape from the Bronx), Fred Williamson (From Dusk Till Dawn), and George Eastman (Sexy Nights of the Living Dead)

Release Date - 1983

Genre - Action/Adventure/Fantasy/Sci-Fi

Tagline - "In the wasteland...only the strong survive"

Format - BluRay (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     The 1980s saw the release of so many amazing post-apocalyptic films that immediately became hits.  Films like Escape from New York, Mad Max, The Road Warrior and in 1982 1990: Bronx Warriors was release by director Enzo G. Castellari.  The film was a mash-up of Escape from New York and 1979 classic The Warriors.  The film went on to be a hit and Enzo soon followed that film up with another post-apocalyptic The New Barbarians which was known in the U.S. as Warriors of the Wasteland.  The film was meant to split up 1990: Bronx Warriors and it's sequel Escape from the Bronx.  The film has nothing to do with the two and featured a completely story line along with some the cast used in 1990.    The film was recently released on blu by the amazing Blue Underground. They were kind enough to send over a review copy of the film.  Thanks guys!

     The film takes place in the year 2019 and the world has been ravaged by a nuclear war.  Humanity is on the brink of extinction and what few remaining settlements are out there is being hunted down by the cult known as The Templars who believe that mankind needs to be eradicated. Standing in their way is a former Templar named Scorpion (Prete) and his friend Nadir (Williamson) who must stop them from killing a group of Christians who believe God will one day save them.

      These three films from Enzo G. Castellari are ones that I had never seen before but have been on my list to check out for years.  The New Barbarians was one that I really wanted to check out the most and when the Blue Underground blus arrived I tossed it in first.  Now, after watching all three I have to say that this film is the weakest of the three but still well worth the watch.  The acting in this one is campy to say the least.  The characters are so full of themselves that it puts the viewer in mind of a Chuck Norris flick or Walker, Texas Ranger.  This campy, over-dramatic characters are leveled out with characters that are goofy on screen and fun to watch.  In the middle of all this we have Williamson who is always smooth regardless of the situation.  He makes every scene he is in fun but skips on most of the action opting to stand out of the way to shoot his bow.  This was a very big let down for me after growing up watching him brawl in almost every film he is in.  The story for this one is nothing new nor does it try to set itself apart from the other films like it.  The film follows the world has ended and we need to rebuild it while defending ourselves story that has been played out even by 1983.  However, the film does pull the viewer in with the Templar angle and the type of characters we do get.  It is not Mad Max or The Road Warrior but it is fun.  Also, the film has tons of deaths with most of them exploding.  It has some high octane kills but the practical effects are hit or miss.  The film uses a lot of explosions and they obviously use dummies for this and it is clearly visible.  This cheapens the gag and makes it laughable at best.  The film does offer up some great skeletons and other practical effects but not all are on the same level.  Finally, this release from Blue Underground has several fantastic special features.  The film has been remastered and has commentary with Enzo G. Castellari, Conversations with Castellari and Fabrizio De Angelis part 2, interviewer with Fred Williamson, trailers, and poster and still gallery.  Overall, The New Barbarians from Blue Underground is the perfect release for those looking for 80s post-apocalyptic action.  The film is a great companion piece for any of the classics I mentioned earlier and this great release from Blue Underground deserves a spot in your collection.  Check it out!

The Bloody Indulgent

Director - Ken Roht (Angel's Ladies)
Starring - Kevin Richardson (Backstreet Boys), Brandon Heitkamp (Death's Door), and Brian Gaskill (A Whore Named Time)
Release Date - 2014
Genre - Horror/Comedy
Tagline - "Renegade strippers hunt a temperamental vampire with substance abuse problems"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Horror musicals are usually a mixed bag for me.  I grew up on the classic A Nightmare Before Christmas but musicals are something I tended to avoid.  I secretly liked Grease but everything else just bored the holy shit out of me.  That was until I was in high school and a friend turned me on to The Rocky Horror Picture Show.  This forever changed my views on horror musicals and made me crave more.  Not long after that the film Repo: The Genetic Opera was released.  The music was moronic and tried too hard but the film definitely had a charm about it all it's own.  Sadly, not many horror musicals have been released since then so when I received The Bloody Indulgent to check out I had to jump on!  Who wouldn't want to see an indie musical starring a former pop star that has fell from fame?  As soon as I could I tossed it in and was utterly disappointed.  

     The film follows the vampire Burt (Richardson) who is addicted to blood.  He turns a former friend into a vampire and then turns his anti-vampire girlfriend into one and immediately kills a club owner.  Burt and his friend then go to a vampire hang out while his friend's girlfriend discovers a gang of zombies and accidentally becomes one.  Now, she is shambling around town feasting on flesh.  Also, the girlfriend of the former club owner and the performers are pissed and set out to kill Burt.  They can't afford to pay a vampire killer so they hold a fundraiser to collect the money to pay him.  However, he is unable to kill Burt forcing the group of misfits to band together and face the blood hungry vampire and his kind.  

     I can really dig a musical that has music that is fun, simple, catchy, and has something to do with the plot of the film.  If they don't follow at least one of these things then the musical falls apart and forces a lackluster flick down the viewer's throat.  That is the point of a musical, at least to me, that is how I feel they should play out.  They should tell a linear story through music and dance numbers instead of using dialogue.  Sadly, The Bloody Indulgent is unable to pull any of those off and rely heavily on Richardson attempting to sing sexually while covered in blood...which does not work.  The acting in this film is one of the weaker portions of the film.  The first eye sore of the flick is the dreadful performance from Richardson.  He tries to build up this character that is purely sexual, lusting for blood, and menacing only to fail.  Most of the time he is prissing around on stage and his character is far from sexual or menacing.  Think Frank N. Furter but without the charm, grace, and catchy lyrics.  Never mind, don't think of that classic character at all.  The remainder of the cast does a better job than Richardson and their characters could be memorable if they were apart of a different production.  The story for this one is one played out in hundreds of films spanning several decades which involves a vampire turning someone and their loved one hunt them down.  This was nothing new but had so much potential one combined with a real musician and turned into a musical.  With that being said, the film fails to toss catchy songs at the viewer with memorable lyrics.  Instead, we get dialogue that is sung to the viewer which makes it hard to follow the story regardless of how simple it is.  Finally, the film is full of typical vampire kills that are full of blood, as well as, some CGI gunshot wounds.  The practical effects are decent but the CGI is below par.  Overall, The Bloody Indulgent is a film that failed to fully use the tools at their disposal.  The film has a slow burning story with horrible musical numbers and a main character as flat as a cardboard cutout.  Avoid this one like the plague.

   

A Blood Story

Director - Joe Hollow (The Family)
Starring - Camden Toy (Chromeskull: Laid to Rest 2), Mindy Robinson (Burying the Ex), and Mark Hanson (Breaking Bad)
Release Date - 2015
Genre - Horror
Tagline - "Till death do us part"
Format - DVD (Personal Collection) (Screener)

Rating (out of 5):

     Elizabeth Bathory is one of the most popular historical figures of all time and fans of horror know her story all too well.  Her story is one of the most bizarre and gruesome tales ever told and one that has inspired countless tales.  The story has so much potential and the possibilities are endless.  Sadly, only a few horror films have popped up over the years with Bathory as the basis that are actually worth watching. A few weeks ago I was sent the horror film A Blood Story to review.  I knew nothing about this release other than it had a small role from the late Robert Z'Dar.  He was an amazing actor and has contributed so much to the genre.  I requested a review copy and promptly received one.  Thanks guys for allowing me to check this one out!

     The film follows a former underwear model (Robinson) who is a victim of domestic violence when her husband disfigured her.  No longer comfortable with her body, she has turned to writing.  She has been offered a job to write an out of the box romance story that does not follow the standard cliches.  She takes the offer and decides to visit a place that is rumored to be near the legendary fountain of youth in hopes of repairing her body.  She meets several people while there.  The place is owned and operated by an older man and his very close daughter.  There is also a loud mouth man who is extremely annoying and then there is the strong and silent Carter who befriends the former model when she learns that the older man and his daughter is sitting on a fortune of old coins.  They set out to rob them but quickly learn that more is going on behind closed door and the father/daughter pair plan on using them to raise an ancient evil.
     There has been several films released over the years with Bathory as the basis for the story but  very few of them are worth a damn.  We have been given Hostel II, Fright Night 2: New Blood, Tomb of the Werewolf and so many more.  If any of you have seen Fright Night 2 then you know how bad it is and so many more are just as bad.  Lucky for us, we get an original story that is worth a watch with A Blood Story.  The acting in this one is solid by the entire cast but some of it just feels out of place.  Camden Toy does a great job in his role.  His character is eccentric and entertaining but he is hard to take seriously.  His character is fun but just does not fit the tone of the film.  Mindy Robinson was amazing.  This is not the first film I have seen her in but she does not stand out in the other films.  However, she is the shining star in this flick.  She is extremely beautiful and makes it almost impossible for the viewer to take their eyes off her.  Also, she is more than another pretty face.  She delivers an amazing performance and helps hold the tone of the movie in place.  Mark Hanson delivers a solid performance as well but his character is the polar opposite of Camden's.  He is very serious and it pulls the viewer off a bit when Camden is on screen.  Direction would have went a long way here.  The story for this is a more modern take on the timeless Bathory tale.  The film incorporates the fountain of youth legend as well to put them in a more contemporary setting.  This works well but the cast has a hard time establishing the tone the story goes in.  The film can not determine if it is to be a serious horror flick or not.  Finally, the film skips with on screen kills and which is a bit of a disappointment.  We do get the bathing in blood that has been the heart of all Bathory stories but that is about as far as the carnage goes.  Overall, A Blood Story is a great blend of horror and fantasy.  The film has a solid story and the cast is solid creating a very enjoyable film.  Sadly, the film is not as bloody as one would think considering the subject but it still deserves a watch.  Check it out.